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After a hiatus in December, NBC's hit series Brilliant Minds is heading back to our screens for a two-part season finale. The medical drama starring Zachary Quinto has been a sensation since its debut last fall, following Dr. Oliver Wolf as he takes on several mind-bending cases, breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. The last batch of episodes for Season 1 is expected to be just as intriguing as the ones that came before it, with the protagonist and his team of interns attending to several patients who survive an apartment crash, as well as a pastor with mysterious visions. In addition, audiences will finally uncover Dr. Erica Kinney's (Ashleigh LaThrop) fate after being trapped in an elevator. With the finale right around the corner, here is our guide to when and where you can watch it.
When Is the 'Brilliant Minds' Midseason Premiere?
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After the series went on a holiday break during the month of December, audiences will finally get to tune in to see Season 1's final episodes. Brilliant Minds will return to NBC on January 6, 2025, at 9:00 p.m. ET, with a two-part finale airing back-to-back. The medical drama was originally coming back on January 13, but its midseason premiere will now be released one week in advance. Brilliant Minds was NBC's top show that came out in 2024, accumulating a total of 28.6 million views across linear and digital platforms. Although the series has yet to be renewed, the Season 1 closer will likely keep carry on the show's popularity.
Is 'Brilliant Minds' Streaming?
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Yes, the series is streaming on Peacock, which is the official platform for all NBC TV shows, such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the Chicago franchise (Chicago P.D., Chicago Med., and Chicago Fire). The final episodes will be available to stream a day after they air on the NBC channel. For those who are interested in subscribing to Peacock, there are two plans available, one being Peacock Premium and the other being Peacock Premium Plus. The first option costs $7.99 per month and offers ad-supported access to the streaming service's catalog. The Premium Plus plan also allows subscribers to have full access to Peacock's media library without ads for a total of $13.99 per month.
Watch 'Brilliant Minds' Official Trailer
The series' official trailer opens with neurologist Dr. Oliver Wolf examining his patients with a genuine interest in finding out why they are in need of medical care. Although his methods can often be unusual, with his colleagues calling him "strange," they admit that there is a lot they can learn from him. As the clip shows, Dr. Wolf sometimes puts himself in the patient's shoes (sometimes literally swallowing their pills) to unlock their symptoms and come to a conclusion about their diagnosis. In his words, "We must see the world through their lens." By helping these people suffering from unexplainable conditions, the protagonist wants others around him to perceive his patients differently. After all, the human mind is unpredictable, and the series presents several examples of ways that the characters' mental health is directly linked to their physical struggles. As Dr. Wolf and his interns take on complicated cases, Brilliant Minds also focuses on their lives outside the hospital.
What Is 'Brilliant Minds' About?
Here is the medical drama's official synopsis, provided by NBC:
"Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier - the human mind - while grappling with their own relationships and mental health."
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Zachary Quinto Turned His Connection with Leonard Nimoy Into a ‘Brilliant Minds’ Guest Spot
Quinto also talks about how there are endless possibilities for stories exploring the brain and consciousness.
What Is the Episode Schedule for 'Brilliant Minds' Season 1?
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As aforementioned, Brilliant Minds has been airing since last fall, with a break during the month of December. Now that the show is heading back to our screens, here is the complete episode schedule.
|
Episode 1 |
Pilot |
Dr. Oliver Wolf reluctantly accepts a job at Bronx General Hospital where he's forced to work with a team of interns as they treat a mother who can no longer recognize her children. |
September 23, 2024 |
|
Episode 2 |
The Bodiless Woman |
Joana, a surrogate for domestic violence victims, delivers the testimonies of women who ran away but never stopped living with the ghosts of their pasts. |
September 30, 2024 |
|
Episode 3 |
The Lost Biker |
A member of a biker gang seeks out Dr. Wolf's help as he grapples with life-threatening memory loss; the interns are tasked to help a young girl struggling with mysterious seizures. |
October 7, 2024 |
|
Episode 4 |
The Blackout Bride |
When a bloody bride stumbles into Bronx General, Wolf goes to extreme measures in a race against the clock to save her and her missing husband; Ericka and Jacob must find a reason for their John Doe patient to not get transferred out of their care. |
October 14, 2024 |
|
Episode 5 |
The Haunted Marine |
Dr. Wolf and the team must help a Marine grapple with mysterious symptoms before the birth of his child. |
October 21, 2024 |
|
Episode 6 |
The Girl Who Cried Pregnant |
Dr. Wolf and the interns go back to high school to treat a group of pregnant teenagers. |
October 28, 2024 |
|
Episode 7 |
The Man From Grozny |
Dr. Wolf and the team perform their most experimental treatment yet: a brain-computer interface implantation in their John Doe patient's brain. |
November 11, 2024 |
|
Episode 8 |
The Lovesick Widow |
When an elderly woman is brought in with signs of dementia, Dr. Wolf investigates whether she's suffering from a neurological disorder or having a late-in-life awakening; Dr. Pierce grapples with a chilling discovery about one of her patients. |
November 18, 2024 |
|
Episode 9 |
The Colorblind Painter |
When an artist refuses to paint for his upcoming show, Dr. Wolf and his team must figure out why; Dr. Pierce goes into uncharted territory with a patient. |
November 25, 2024 |
|
Episode 10 |
The First Responder |
An unexpected patient crashes into Bronx General with mysterious life-threatening symptoms. |
December 2, 2024 |
|
Episode 11 |
The Other Woman |
Dr. Pierce treats a patient in crisis, presenting an ethical dilemma; Dr. Wolf and Dr. Nichols disagree on how to treat a patient. |
December 9, 2024 |
|
Episode 12 |
The Doctor Whose World Collapsed |
Dr. Wolf and his team face their biggest challenge yet when an apartment building collapses in the Bronx. |
January 6, 2025 |
|
Episode 13 |
The Man Who Can't See Faces |
Dr. Wolf meets a pastor dealing with mysterious visions; the interns grapple with the fallout from the building collapse. |
January 6, 2025 |
Other Medical Dramas Like 'Brilliant Minds' to Watch Next
Image via NBC
Since Brilliant Minds Season 1 is nearly over, here are two recommendations for medical dramas to watch next if you are looking for options that are similar to the Zachary Quinto-led show.
'The Good Doctor' (2017-2024)
Image via ABC
In The Good Doctor, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) joins a prestigious hospital in San Jose, California, but struggles to socialize with his peers. The young surgeon has autism, which directly plays into both his strengths as a professional and his hardships in making connections with patients and other hospital staff. Throughout the series, audiences see through Dr. Murphy's brilliance and root for him.
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The Good Doctor
Release Date September 25, 2017
Finale Year November 30, 2023
Seasons 7
Creator(s) David Shore
Writers David Shore , Liz Friedman
Network ABC
Streaming Service(s) Hulu
Showrunner David Shore , Liz Friedman
Where To Watch Hulu
'House' (2004-2012)
Image via Fox
Dr. Wolfe sticks out in Brilliant Minds given his eccentricity, which is a characteristic that Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) also shares. The titular character isn't a typical medical practitioner, often resorting to unethical means in order to attend to his patients' needs. Although he may be rude and antisocial, he isn't daunted by puzzling cases and will do whatever it takes to find the cure for rare and complex diseases.
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The show follows Dr. Oliver Wolf, a brilliant but eccentric neurologist inspired by the real-life work of Dr. Oliver Sacks. As Dr. Wolf and his team tackle mysterious and complex neurological cases, they also struggle with their own personal challenges and mental health.
Release Date September 23, 2024
Main Genre Drama
Seasons 1
Character(s) Dr. Oliver Wolf , Dr. Josh Nichols , Dr. Carol Pierce , Dr. Van Markus , Dr. Jacob Nash , Dr. Dana Dang , Dr. Ericka Kinney
English (US) ·